Genome degradation results in nested symbiosis and endosymbiont replacement in cicadas.

ABSTRACT: Gradual genome degradation and fragmentation in primary nutritional endosymbionts have required symbiont-dependent hosts periodically to replace such symbionts over evolutionary timescales, yet the processes involved in de novo emergence of endosymbiosis and symbiont replacement are challenging to ascertain. Here we show that phylogenetic relationships of two ancient vertically-transmitted bacterial endosymbionts of cicadas, Hodgkinia and Karelsulcia, mirror host phylogeny, particularly indicating a single ancestral infection of cicadas by Hodgkinia with subsequent host-symbiont codiversification before being replaced by yeast-like fungal symbionts (YLS). We demonstrate a case of co-existence of Hodgkinia with Karelsulcia and a YLS, representing an advanced ongoing symbiont replacement pro

SUBMITTER: Zhou J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12627099 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature